CJ105 Criminal Law

for F2T 2007

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Vision Statement: Park University will be a renowned international leader in providing innovative educational opportunities for learners within the global society.

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Course Description: This course is a survey of the history and nature of criminal law in the United States. Substantive Criminal law, defenses, and criminal responsibility will be studied within the context of the criminal justice process and rules of evidence. 3:0:3

Educational Philosophy:

This course is the introductory course in criminal law. This course will examine how crimes are defined and what is required to arrest and convict defendants of violations of the criminal law through interactive discussions, essays and an exam. We will examine general principles of criminal responsibility, defenses to that responsibility, and the elements of specific crimes. We will be focusing on the majority of crimes, which are defined by the states. We will only mention federal crimes, which are a much smaller portion of the overall crime picture.

Criminal laws vary from state to state, but there are many similarities. Much of the state criminal law in the United States was developed at common law. Common law was how various judges defined the law. Increasingly since the early 1900s, the state legislatures have become more involved in regulating criminal behavior by passing statutes defining crimes and their penalties. In the past several decades, a number of states have adopted a version of the Model Penal Code, which is a non-governmental effort at bringing some standardization to the criminal law.

From this study, students will have a better understanding of the historical development of criminal law, and the nature and purpose of criminal law. Also, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the substantive criminal law, both common law and modern statutes.

Learning Outcomes:Core Learning Outcomes

Delineate a basic understanding of the historical development of criminal law in the United States, while perceiving the nature and purpose of criminal law.

Demonstrate knowledge of the substantive criminal law, both common law and modern statutes, including the different categories of crimes and the elements of each.

Employ improved ability to effectively gather, evaluate, and communicate information in both written and oral forms

Core Assessment:

For this class you will be expected to write three essays - each comparing a modern state statute with corresponding historical common law for that crime. The essays may be collected all at once or at different times during the course.

The purpose in writing these essays is to examine the historical development of criminal law from common law principles to current state statutes, the relationship between criminal justice and the law, and the social policy implications of criminal law development.

To complete each of the three essays, you should:

Select a state and its statute making an act a crime (e.g. stealing).

Research the historical common law for that crime.

Based on your research, compare the current criminal statute with the historical common law to see how the elements of the crime have evolved.

Write a short essay, 1,250 words or five typewritten or computer-generated pages, describing the elements of the current state statute, the elements of the historical common law, and comparing the elements and how they have changed. Discuss possible reasons for the changes in the elements, how the interaction of criminal justice agencies and the law may have contributed to these changes, and suggest new changes in the statute, based on society’s needs today.

Each of your three essays must include:

A cover page

Introduction

Description of the elements of the crime under historical common law

Description of the elements of the current state statute for that crime

Compare how the elements of the crime have changed from the historical common law to the current state statute

Discuss possible reasons for the changes

Suggest new changes in the statute, based on society’s needs today

Reference page, using APA style

You must demonstrate that you understand the terminology and the concepts used in criminal law. You must write using APA format for all source citations in both the body of the essay and in the reference page.

Core Assessment: during the course you are required to write 3 essays as explained in the core assessment above. Each essay is worth 100 points.

* the first essay is due at the end of week 2. The essay should
discuss uncompleted or inchoate crimes and parties to crimes.

* the second essay is due at the end of week 4. The essay should

discuss a crime against persons.

* the third essay is due at the end of week 6. The essay should discuss

crime against property.

Be sure to read the Class Rubric for the core assessment.

Each week, participation is required. Initial participation in the week's discussion is required by Thursday morning, with follow-up discussion required by Sunday morning. Each week's participation is worth 40 points (20 points for responses to instructor's opening questions and 20 points for responses to classmates' postings). Participation will be graded based on the following criteria:

Did the student answer at least 2 of the instructor's opening questions?

Did the student respond to the postings of classmates?At least 3 replies in each topic area in a way that encourages further discussion of classmates (includes complete thoughts and support).

Did the student respond on time? Did the student in his/her responses demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter covered in the questions?

Proctored final examination:

A final proctored examination will be taken in a proctored testing environment during the 8th week at one of the ParkUniversity sites around the country or at an alternative location. ( A proctor is someone who gives you the exam) For proctored examinations, photo identification is required at the time of the test. Guidelines for selecting an acceptable proctor can be found on the Park University Website. The proctored final exam for this course is worth 300 points.

Other information on proctored exams:

It will be the responsibility of the student to arrange for a proctor, by the 6th week of the term, who is accepted and approved by the course instructor.

Approval of proctors is the discretion of the Online instructor.

A proctor request form will be made available to you during the first week of class so that you can send your requested proctor to your instructor for approval. Failure to take a final proctored exam will result in an automatic grade of "F".

Grading:

Grading Criteria –Students are expected to participate and complete all assignments during the weeks in which they are assigned. The due date for all assignments is 12:00 midnight Mountain Time on the Sunday of each week of the course unless a different due date is specified.

Course Grading Scale- The components of the course and their respective worth are as follows:

Weekly online question entries

30 points each week

for 240 points total

Weekly online feedback entries

20 points each week

for 160 points total

Essays

100 points each assignment

for 300 points total

Final exam

300 points

TOTAL

1000 points

A =

90- 100% (900 points or higher)

B =

80-89% (800 to 899 points)

C =

70-79% (700 to 799 points)

D =

60-69% (600 to 699 points)

F =

< 60% (599 or fewer points)

Late Submission of Course Materials:Work submitted after the close of each week's class Sunday night at 12:00 midnight will be subject to 5% penalty each week each week it is late.

Classroom Rules of Conduct:

Course-Specific Policies:

Course weeks begin on Mondays and end on Sundays. The classroom each week will open on Sunday, the day before the class officially begins. You are required to enter the course discussion each week several times. You should enter your initial responses to discussion questions posted by the instructor by Thursday , then enter your responses to classmates' responses by Sunday . I will enter responses periodically during the week.

Assignments must be posted by 12:00 midnight Sunday evening, Mountain Time, by submitting the assignment to the correct drop box. I will grade the assignment, and submit the graded assignment with score and comments back to that drop box. Additional graded activities, including participation, will posted in the grade book weekly.

For private communication with me or with classmates, use e-mail. For all other course activities, use the discussion, chat and drop box.

Students are responsible for clicking on the link below and thoroughly reading each Online course policy. If you have questions about any of these policies, please contact your instructor for clarification.

Week 8, Dec. 10 - 16: Crimes against the State, Read Chapter 13, Discussions with 2 answers to questions and 3 peer replies, complete an essay on a state's laws on crime against property, and take a Proctored Final Exam.

Academic Honesty:Academic integrity is the foundation of the academic community. Because each student has the primary responsibility for being academically honest, students are advised to read and understand all sections of this policy relating to standards of conduct and academic life. Park University 2007-2008 Undergraduate Catalog Page 85-86

Plagiarism:Plagiarism involves the use of quotations without quotation marks, the use of quotations without indication of the source, the use of another's idea without acknowledging the source, the submission of a paper, laboratory report, project, or class assignment (any portion of such) prepared by another person, or incorrect paraphrasing. Park University 2007-2008 Undergraduate Catalog Page 85

The instructor may excuse absences for valid reasons, but missed work must be made up within the semester/term of enrollment.

Work missed through unexcused absences must also be made up within the semester/term of enrollment.

Work missed through unexcused absences must also be made up within the semester/term of enrollment, but unexcused absences may carry further penalties.

In the event of two consecutive weeks of unexcused absences in a semester/term of enrollment, the student will be administratively withdrawn, resulting in a grade of "F".

A "Contract for Incomplete" will not be issued to a student who has unexcused or excessive absences recorded for a course.

Students receiving Military Tuition Assistance or Veterans Administration educational benefits must not exceed three unexcused absences in the semester/term of enrollment. Excessive absences will be reported to the appropriate agency and may result in a monetary penalty to the student.

Report of a "F" grade (attendance or academic) resulting from excessive absence for those students who are receiving financial assistance from agencies not mentioned in item 5 above will be reported to the appropriate agency.

ONLINE NOTE: An attendance report of "P" (present) will be recorded for students who have logged in to the Online classroom at least once during each week of the term. Recording of attendance is not equivalent to participation. Participation grades will be assigned by each instructor according to the criteria in the Grading Policy section of the syllabus.

Disability Guidelines:Park University is committed to meeting the needs of all students that meet the criteria for special assistance. These guidelines are designed to supply directions to students concerning the information necessary to accomplish this goal. It is Park University's policy to comply fully with federal and state law, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, regarding students with disabilities. In the case of any inconsistency between these guidelines and federal and/or state law, the provisions of the law will apply. Additional information concerning Park University's policies and procedures related to disability can be found on the Park University web page: http://www.park.edu/disability .

Rubric

Competency

Exceeds Expectation (3)

Meets Expectation (2)

Does Not Meet Expectation (1)

No Evidence (0)

Evaluation Outcomes1

Appraises the sources into congruous and thoughtful conclusions - thoughtful implies some original thinking

Appraises the sources into congruous conclusions

Appraises the sources into conclusions

Evaluation is not present in artifact

Synthesis Outcomes2

Combines common law and statutes into a consistent whole

Combines common law and statutes into a consistent whole

Combines two of the three types of sources into a consistent whole

Fails to combine at least two of the three types of sources into a consistent whole

Analysis Outcomes2

Analyzes key elements from all sources (the text, statute, and common law source

Analyzes key elements from the text and statute

Analyzes key elements from only the text

Analysis is not present in artifact

Application Outcomes2

The artifact shows multiple instances and exceptional understanding of terminology and concepts throughout the paper

The artifact shows sufficient and satisfactory use of terminology and concepts throughout the paper

The artifact shows little and unsatisfactory use of terminology and concepts throughout the paper

The artifact fails to demonstrate an understanding of terminology and concepts appropriate to the profession

Content of Communication Outcomes3

Each section contains sufficient information that make the artifact a model for other students or publishable

Each section contains sufficient information that make the artifact easily readable and understandable

The artifact is readable and understandable but it is sometimes difficult to transition from one section to another

The relationship is hard to understand. The artifact is difficult to read.

Technical Skill in Communicating Outcomes3

The artifact contains fewer than 5 errors in the APA writing convention and in the paper presentation (spelling, grammar, etc.)

The artifact contains 5 to 10 errors in the APA writing convention and in the paper presentation (spelling, grammar, etc.)

The artifact contains more than 10 errors in the APA writing convention and in the paper presentation (spelling, grammar, etc.)

The artifact contains so many errors in the APA writing convention or in the paper presentation that it is difficult to read

Disciplinary Competency Outcomes1

analyzes previous laws and cases to decide the current constitutional issue in criminal justice and future implications of the resolution of this issue

analyzes previous laws or cases (but not both) to decide the current constitutional issue in criminal justice and future implications of the resolution of this issue

analyzes previous laws or cases (but not both) to decide the current constitutional issue in criminal justice, but fails to discuss future implications of the resolution of this issue

shows no relationship between past issues and today's world

Disciplinary Competency Outcomes2

clearly discusses social policy implications of the proposed solution to the constitutional issue

discusses social policy implications of the proposed solution to the constitutional issue

mentions social policy

no discussion of social policy

Disciplinary Competency Outcomes3

see effective communication sections above

see effective communication sections above

see effective communication sections above

see effective communication sections above

Copyright:

This material is protected by copyright and can not be reused without author permission.